Can-body-forming machine



J. BRENZINGEH'.

CAN BODY FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICAHUN msn DEC 20,1919

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

I2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. BRENZINGER.

CAN BODY FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATKON FILED uec 20. I919.

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

12 SHEETS-5HEET 2.

I. BRENZlNGER.

CAN BODY FOREVHNG MACHINE.

APPI'CATHJN mm DEC 20,1919.

1,427,896, PatentedSept. 5, 1922.

I2 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J. BRENZINGER.

CAN BODY FOHMiNG MACHiNE.

APPLICATSON HLED DEC 20,1919.

J BRENZINGER.

CAN BODY FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICA ION FILED DEC 20 I919.

Patent/ed Sept. 5, 1922.

)2 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

J BRENZINGER.

CAN BODY FORMiNG MACHINE.

APPLICAHON HLED DEC 20, 1910.

J BRENZINGER.

CAN BODY FORMING MACHiNE.

APPLICATION HLED DEC 20 1919,

12 SHEETS SHELT 7 I I'M l BRENZINGER.

CAN BODY FORMING MACHiNE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC 20, I919.

PatentedSept. 5, 1922.

12 SHEETS SHEEI 8.

J. BRENZINGER.

CAN BODY FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mm on: 20,1919.

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

I2 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

F mm KN mm Al g f N PatentedSept. 5, 1922.

I2 SHEETS-SHEET I0- J. BRENZINGER.

CAN BODY FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 05c 20. I919.

1,427,896. PatentedSept. 5, 1922.

J. BRENZINGER.

CANBODY FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICAHON man 05c 20.1919.

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

12 SHEETS-SHEET Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS BRENZINGER, OF FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE MAX AMS MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CAN-BODY-FORMING MACHINE.

Application filed December 20, 1919.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that' I. JtTLIL's BRENZINGER. a citizen ofjthe United States. residing at Fairfild, in the county of Fairlield and State of Connecticut, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in (Tan-Body- Forming Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to machines for forming the body portions of sheet-metal containers, commonly known as tin cans, from flat blanks. Such a machine is usually designed to form the first link in a chain of machines, wherein the work units are delivered from each machine to the next in succession and which cooperate to form the can body, apply solder exteriorly to the sideseam, flange the end edges of the formed body and double-seam one of the end portions thereto. whereupon the container is ready for delivery to the packer for filling and sealing.

- Obviously, all of the machines of such a chain must operate at a uniform rate of s eed. so far as output capacity is concerned.

ecent rapid development of Hanging and heading machines. however. may be said to have caused such machines to outstrip forming and soldering 'machines in possible speed of practical and dependable operation. and eHiciency demands that the maximum output capacity of Hanging and heading machines be not curtailed on account of a lower maximum rate of deliveries of work units thereto. It will be apparent, therefore. that a body forming machine. in spite of having to perform successively the various operations of notching. edgin bending. inter locking. compressing. fl iixing. soldering. wiping and cooling. should be capable of dependable operation at comparatively high speed.

Furthermore. it is well known that tin cans are made in many different standard shapes and sizes. Modern Hangers and doubleseamers are. as a rule, capable of ready and comparatively simple ad ustment to meet the requirements of a wide range of diH'erent standard sizes of parts to be operated upon: but the mechanisms of a forming machine. which must not only be adapted to successfully perform the Operations above set forth but which must include means for ellecting intermittent movement Serial No. 346,386.

of the blanks, in progressive stages of formatron. in continuous procession from one operating station to the next and thus through the machine, are necessarily complex and more or less complicated. The cost of such a machine is doubtless far too great to justify what may be termed the average can manufacturer in providing himself with a separate machine for each size of can desired to be produced; and not onlv that. but the economy efl'ected through the adjustable features of modern Hangers a nd doubleseamers would be utterly lost in case the forming machine were notalso capable of like adjustment.

-I*nrthermore. this same complexity and complication necessarily leads to difficulties in connection with the repair or replacement of broken or worn parts. well known to be altogether too frequently occurring in the use of all metal-working machinery. llfiiclency again demands the ready accessibility of such parts. and that such accessibility be not gained at the expense of the requisite strength. rigidity, accuracy and general dependability ot the machine.

Furthermore. the well-known diiliculties attendant upon the handling oi thin sheetmetal blanks. due to inherentmalformations. irregularities. imperfections and the like. not int'retuently resrllteveu in the most carefully designed and constructed man chines-in failure of intended operations and consequent distortion and jamming" of one. or more of the work units. rendering clearance necessary before operations can be continued. 'lherel'ore. the entire path of travel of the blank. in process of formation. should be capable of ready accessibility for purposes of removal of distorted and januued blanks and requisite readjustment: and this requirement. obviously. involves the necessity for quick stoppage of the forming machine and preferably. as will be apparent. without stopping other machines in the chain-as. for instance. the soldering machine. whcrciu premature cooling of an incompletely soldered can body would be likely to cause more trouble.

Furtln-rmore. in cudeuvoring to construct a can-body forming machine capable of a speed of operation equivalent to the maxinnun capacity of modern Hanging and headiin machines. quick operation of the notclr ing, edging, bending and compressing tools is really subordinate to quickremoval of these tools lirom the path of travel of the blanks, so that the periods of rest may be of the shortest possible duration.

Furthermore, the inertia or momentum of the advancin blanks must be taken into consideration. ach of these blanks must obviously be brought to an egractl -adjusted position of rest "in each of t-hevarrous mechanisms, successively. To fall'shoi't of reaching such position would, of eoursmbe fatal. To effect the reaching and retaining of such position by; initial delivery is, of course, a. practical impossibility. Therefore, itis desirable-if not essential-that each blank be carried slightly beyond each roper position. and upon being released rom its advancing means be returned to engagement with suitable stops or gauges-and this in addition to the rovision of means for partially overcoming or minimizing momentum.

Furthermore. the necessity of bringing the advancing work units periodically into conditions of rest would naturally seem to render indispensable intermittently operating advancing means. the simplest and probably most satisfactory form of which is that of one or more reci )rocating parts or members. In such case. t ese parts are generally provided with pivotally mounted pushcr-pawls spring-pressed to operative or engaging positions, whereby upon the return or rearward stroke of the reciprocating parts the pawls will bedepressed to clearor otherwise withdrawn from the path of movement of--the positioned blank which has just been advanced. It is essential that these pawls be'sensitively responsive to depressing forces. particularly in a rapidly operating machine. in order to safeguard againstbreakage of the tools or distortion of the work and to minimize friction, and yet be quickly, eti'cctively and dependably returned to engaging positions as each positioned blank is cleared.

Furthermore. the cdgcwise and sidewise advancing blank must be first notohed at opposite ends thereof. thcn edge-d" at these same ends. and then bent to form and the edged ends inter-hooked. While the notching punches. the edging tools and the bending means must obviously all be powerfully and in a certain sense independently operated. operation of each particular set of instrumentalities must be synchronous and in certain cases cooperative. and this with the advancing mechanism interposed between opposite members thereof. Not only does economy, as well as etlicienc-y.

demand again that the requisite strengthand rigidity, essential to power and synchronism, be obtained without cumbersomeness, but sight must not be lost of the necessity 'of my invention.

for ready accessibility of both tools and work and facility of dimensional adjustment.

Furthermore, in view=of the thinness and consequent flexibility of the metal sheets being operatedupon, inherent imperfections and irregti laritiejsand the slight dimensional. variations, it is desirable in many cases that the forces applied throughout the various operations be of a yielding character; in others that the force-applying means be initially yielding and subsequently become orbe made inflexible. For instance, it has been found best to hold the blank yieldingly against the forming mandrel during the bending operation, but after the edged ends have been interhooked all 'of the parts should be rigidly supported against the action of the seam-compressing die.

The principal objectof the present invention is the provision of a machine which will to the greatest possible extent meet the requirements above set forth, and otherwise, in general. simplify and improve the construction and ,operation of present known can-body forming machines, not only without sacrifice of eliiciency and dependability but with actual and material advance in these qualities.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part, of this specification, 1 have illustrated a machine which I believe to be the most practical and convenient embodiment In these drawings Fig. 1 is a side'elevation. partly in sec- 100 tion. of the machine. showing what may be considered as.the right side thereof:

- Fig.2 is a top plan view of the same:

Fig. 3 is a central, longitudinal. vertical section. taken substantially .on the line 33 106 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end view. looking from the right in Fig. 1;

Figs. 5, (i and T are cnlargml transverse sections. taken on the lines 6-4 and 110 T-7.. respectively. of Fig. I:

Fig. (3 is a partly sectional detail view qt the righthand tool or die holder of the. rotching mechanism shown in Fi (3.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal sec- 115 tion. taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2,, the parts being shown in what may be termed forward positions:

Fi .9 is a transverse section taken sub- Figs. 1: and 13 are enlarged transverse sections, taken on the lines 12-42 and 13-43. respectively. of Fig. 11:

Fig. 1* is an enlarged detail end view, ditl'cring from Fig. 4 in that the forming or bending wings are shown in open posihulls;

Fig. 15 is a vertical section. taken substantially on the line l5l.-' of Fig. 14;

Figs. It}. 17' and 18 are plan views and Fig. 19 an edge view of a blank. showing the results of the notching and edging operations, and

Figs. 20. QI-and 22 are sectional views through the mandrel illustrative of the ct fects' of the compressing operation after interhooking of the edged ends of the blank.

The machine illustrated comprises a substantial base A upon which is mounted an upright. inverted U-shaped frame B. and a horizontal bed C bolted to the frameli at its forward end and supported bv the legs D at its other end. said legs eing preferably integral therewith and suitably secured to the base A. The bed C, in the form shown, is a substantially rectangular dish-shaped casting provided with interior lateral ribs 0 and 0 at least one of which (0) and the forward wall 0 are recessed along their upper ends to provide guideways for lateral movement of the longitudinal bed-plates E and E. right and left. of the middle line of the machine. respectively. whereby said bed-plates are laterally adjustable with reference to each other. To effect such lateral adjustment, I have shown rods (1 and d passing through the side walls 0 and c of the bed C and threaded into lugs and d depending from said. bed-plates E and E, respectively. the outer ends of said rods being squared for the reception of a wrench or crank whereby said rods may be readily turned and operate to move said bed-plates toward and from each other. e

As hereinbefore stated. the machine of the present invention is designed to receive. successively, Hat and rectangular sheet-metal blanks and advance the same in continuous procession therethrough. automatically notching. edging and forming each blank in transit. interhooking the edged ends and compressing the interhooked portions into a substantially solid seam. Perfect can bodies cannotbc produced unless the notches in each blank are positioned and dimensioned with the. greatest accuracy. the edges turned with unerring uniformity and in such manner as to preserve substantially perfect rectangularity. and the notched and edged blank delivered to the forming mechanism with its edged ends precisely paralleling the axis of the, forming horn or mandrel. It will be apparent. therefore. that the first and foremost requisite of a machine of this character is the provision of advancing means of such character as to insure proccs sional movement of the blanks in perfect alignment. The slightest deflection of a blank in transit would result, in the notching mechanism. in displacement and improper dimensioning of two or more of the notches. in the edging mechanism in distorted hooks. and in the Forming mechanism in failure of the hooked ends to properly inter-engage. ()bviouslv. to insure such alignment. the advancing forces must be applied at more than one point. and if the blank is pushed along by means engaging its rear edge-as is. so far as I am aware, the invariable practicet\vo points of force application are as good as a thousand. but these points should be as widely separated with reference to the blank-edge as practicable-particularly considering the adjustubilitv of the machine for the manipulation of blanks of various standard sizes. This comparatively wide separation, in view of the fact that the thin and flexible sheet must be supported between the points of application of the advancing forces. renders necessary the employment of what practically amount to two separate and independent advancing mechanisms. Obviously, however. these mechanisms must be so actuated, or so inter-connectedas to insure absolute synchronism ot' movements-otherwise, perfect alignment wouldbe an impossibility. even with the mostcarefully adjusted guideways. unless fitted so snugly in the latter as to interfere with the essential freedom of movement thereof on account of friction-and it is to he remembered that under any conditions provisions must be made for the slight variations in the dimensions of blanks intended to be of uniform size. Furthermore. in endeavoring to insure retension of this essential alignment of the blanks in transit. consideration must be given to the hereinbefore-mentioned necessitvfor a slight over-thr0w of ea ch'- blank and return of the same to; proper position in each of the notching and edging mechanisms. and this in connection with the necessity for efi'ecting ready access to the path of travel of the blanks for the removal thereof in case of distortion due to imperfections and otherwise. in an emergency'. as might be desirable or essential.

I do not claim for the advancing means of the machine of the present invention any radical departure in general principles from mechanisms now well known and in common use: but I do claim to have materially improved old constructions designed to carr these principles into effect. particularly along the lines of the insurance of practicallv perfect synchronization and accurate positioning of each blank at each operating tation. To this end. I have shown the side walls (2 and c of the bed throughout portions of their lengths from their rca r ends. provided with flanges c," and c. rcspwrtivelv. forming oppositely-disposed tracks for the channeled blocks .51 and 22 which are reciprocably slidable thereon. The upper face of each of these blocks 21 and 22 is transversely channeled-or formed with ribs which provide a transverse channelfor the reception of an end of the crossbar 23 in which said end is bolted (see Fig. 1), said cross-bar thus bridging said blocks and reciprocating therewith. Over this cross-bar 23 are provided the guide-bars 24 and 25. serving a double function, as will hereinafter appear, said bars being each provided with bosses at the ends thereof throu h which said bars are bolted to the bed-p ates E and E, whereby a longitudinal slot is provided for reciprocation of ti 2 cross-bar 23, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Each of these guide-bars 24 and 25 includes a vertically extending wing 26, the function of which will be hereinafter set forth. Through these rigidly connected blocks 21 and 22 the blank-advancing mechanism is driven, and for the reasons hereinbefore set forth it is essential that said blocks move in practically absolute synchronism.

To insure this essential s nchronous reciprocation, I provide a soli casting which includes the shaft 27, the crank-arms 28 and 29 at the ends thereof, respectively, and the actuating crank-lever 30. The shaft 27 is suitably journaled in hearings in a sup lemental frame 31 which I have shown bo ted to the under side of the bed C. The ends of the arms 28 and 29 are provided with bosses 32 and 33, respectively, carrying. the crank-pins 34 and 35 upon which the links or connectin -rods 36 and 37 are mounted. the outer en 5 of said links being similarly mounted upon wrist-pins 38 and 39 carried by bosses 40 and 41 with which the blocks 21 and 22 are provided,'respectively. It will be apparent that the blocks 21 and 22 will be reciprocated upon rocking the shaft 27 and due to the rigidity of structure will reciprocate in practically perfect synchronism after initial accurate alignment.

The main power shaft 42 is journaled in bearings provided by in lug's or brackets 43 projecting from both legs of the inverted U-shaped frame B, and I have shown this shaft driven by means of a pulley 44 thereon adapted to be connected in the usual man'- ner with any suitable source of power. l pon what I have consideredand shall proceed to consider-the left leg of said frame B is mounted the gear 45, positioned to mesh with a pinion 46 on the shaft 42. This gear 45 also constitutes a crank-wheel, bein provided with the crank-pin 47 on Wllll is mounted one end of the connecting-rod 48 the other end of which is ad- 'ustably connected, in a common and wellimown manner, to the end of the cranklever 30 on the shaft 27, a boss 49 provided at the end of said lever carrying the crank pin 50. It will thus be seen that upon rotation of the shaft 42 the lever 30 will be oscillated and the shaft 27 rocked, thereby reciprocatin the blocks 21 and 22 in the manner set orth.

As hereinbefore explained, the blank-advancing mechanism comprises two separate and. individual instrumentalities, located right and left, respectively, of the middle l ne of the machine. These instrumentalities are opposite counterparts. wherefore a, detailed description of one thereof will suffice for both. Referring more particularly to Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13, wherein I have illustrated in detail the right-hand instrumentality, it will be seen that the same comprises a pair of spaced and rigidly connected feedbars 51 and 52, the latter being adjustably bolted to a block 53 which straddles the cross-bar 23, and which is mounted to reciprocate longitudinally in a suitable way int c bed-plate E (see Fig. 12), the other ends of these feed-bars being slidably supported in a corresponding way in the other end of said bed-plate (see Fig. 13). It will be seen, therefore, that upon reciprocation of the blocks 21 and 22, and therewith the cross-bar 23, the feed-bars 51 and 52 will be longitudinally reciprocated.

Pivotally mounted between the bars 51 and 52 at the extreme rear ends thereof is the rearwardly prolj ecting blank-engaging hook or and 54. his hook or pawl is yielding y held in engaging position b means of a spring-pressed plunger 55 in t e spacing block 56 acting against said pawl in the manner of a bell-crank lever (see Fig. 11), a stop 57 limiting movement of said pawl under action of the spring. In engaging position, the hook or pawl 54 is raised slightly above the plane of the up er faces of the bars 51 and 52, and a blanli having been properly positioned for engagement thereby, upon the rearward stroke of re ciprocation of said bars said hook or pawl will be depressed a ainst the action of the spring and pass un er the positioned blank. When said hook or pawl clears the rear edge of the blank, it is again spring-pressed to engaging position, and upon the forward stroke of reciprocation of saidbars engages said blank and advances the same into the machine a distance approximately equal to the length of the stroke of reciprocation. The blanks may be successively positioned for engagement in any desired manner, as bv hand, or, as illustratively suggested (Figs. 1 and 3). by feed-rollers 58 58 in a common and well-known manner.

Positioned to engage the rear edge of the blank thus advanced by the hook or pawl 54, at the end of the next rearward stroke of reciprocation of the feed-bars. is the pawl 59, pivotally mounted between said bars and spring-pressed to engaging position. This pawl 59 is similarly depressed by the advanced blank during the rearward stroke of reciprocation of the feed-bars-said blank being held against rearward movement in a manner to be hereinafter.describedand having cleared said blank is again raised to engaging position, engaging the rear edge of said blank upon the next forward stroke of reciprocation and advancing-the, same another step and to position for delivery, on the next forward stroke, to the notching mechanism. Upon this next succeeding forward stroke. the blank is similarly engaged by a similar spring-pressed pawl and advanced into said notching mechanism. During the next succeeding rearward stroke of reciprocation of the feed-bars, the notching operation is performed, the blank being at rest, and the similarly depressible springpressed pawl 60 (Fig. 6) carried back under said blank and to engaging position at the rear edge thereof, the pawl 59 now being in engaging position with'respect to the next succeeding blank for advancement of the same to the notching mechanism. The next forward stroke of reciprocation adrances the notched blank another step and into position intermediate the notching and the edging mechanism, and another blank into the notching mechanism. During the next rearward stroke of reciprocation, the non-hing and edging mechanisms are again operated while the blanks are at rest in said mechanisms. respectively, and another similarly depressible spring-pressed pawl 61, properly positioned, is carried back under the blank in said intermediate position and to engaging position at the rear edge thereof. the pawl 59 now bein in engaging position with respect to anot er blank to be operated upon and the pawl (at in engaging position with respect to the blank which has just been notched. The next forward stroke of reciprocation advances all blanks in the manner described. carrying an edged blank to position intermediate the edging and the forming mechanisms, and thence by the pawl 62 into the forming mechanism.

To prevent rearward movement of the advanced blanks with rearward movement of the feed-bars 5i and 52. after positioning of said blanks. I provide a recessed bar 63, secured at its rear end to the bed-plate E through the intcrposition of an angle-bar 64;

(Fig. 12). paralleling the feed-bars 51 and 5:2. and secured at its forward end i'lirectly to said bed-plate where it forms one side of the aforesaid guideway for the feed-bars. Within the longitudinal recess in the bar 63. I mount a series of stop-pawls 65. 65. 'lhese pawls are similarly depressible and spring-pressed to engaging positions. whereby they are non-interferent with forward movement of the blanks but are adapted to engage the rear edges of the latter successively when positioned by the pawls 59, 60, 61, etc.. and prevent rearward movement thereof with the feed-bars 51 and 52. I have shown in Fig. 12 a manner of pivoting these stop-pawls, but have not otherwise illustrated the same in detail. as it may be assumed that in all respects they correspond in construction, mounting and spring-pressure operation to the pawls 59. 60. 61. etc.- examples of a common and well-known ex pedient.

One of the series of stop pawls 65 65- and it is to be remembered that I am now describing one of two oppositely located and counterpart instrumentalities which combine to make up the advancing mechanism checks rearward movement of a blank in position for further advancement into the notching mechanism. The next stop-pawl in advance thereof checks rearward movement of the advanced blank when properly positioned in the notching mechanism. The next stop-pawl checks rearward movement of the further advanced blank. and the next said blank when the same is properly positioned in the edging mechanism. The next stop-pawls perform the same func- .tion in connection with the delivery of the blank to the forming mechanism.

As I have stated. the machine of the present invention is prin'iarily designed to be operated at comparatively great speed. This naturally involves rapid reciprocation of the feed-bars which results. even when suitable frictional braking means are employed. in more or less of an overthrow of each blank in attempting to bring the same to position at each of the operating stations. due to inertia. In fact. as suggested. it mav be said to be necessary to slightly overthrow each blank in order to insure against insufficient advancement. heari'hg in mind the requisite of practically perfect and invariably uniform ultimate positioning. Therefore, it would seem to be essential that means he provided to quickly and dependably return each over-thrown blank to engagementwith the stop-pawls at each operating station. Furthermore. it is also to be remembered that such means should be of a character to permit ready access to the entire path of travel of the blanks at any time. whcu desired. for any reason but particularly for the purposc of facilitating the removal of blanks which have been distorted or have become jammed on account of inherent imperfections or other causes.

\Yith these ideas in mind. I provide a transverse horizontal shaft ()6 having bearings in brackets 67 bolted to the legs of the inverted U-shaped frame B. Upon this shaft are pivotally mounted the vertically swinging bars 69 and 69. positioned substantially above and normally parallel to the bars 63. Integral with 0i suitably mounted upon each of the guide-bars 2+ and is the boss or post it), piroted for horizontal oscillation on 'which is the latch-arm 71 adapted to be manually controlled by the lever 72 which constitutes an extension thereof. As shown in Fig. 2. the end of said latch-arm TI is notched for the reception of a catch-plate 73, suitably secured to the end of each of the bars 68 and 69. which catclrplate is also provided with an interengaging notch. A spring 74 in tension between said latch-arm 71 and a suitable anchorage on the web or wing 26 tends to \'icldingly retain said latch-arm in engaging position. whereby, when the ends of said bars (in and G9 are in latching engagement therewith they are releasably held in the normal positions indicated. It will be seen that through the instrumentality of the levers or handles 72. the ends of said bars 68 and (39 may at any time be released and the latter swung to positions as indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. 1 or 8.

The bars 68 and (39. together with their appurtenances, as hereinafter described, are opposite counterparts. wherefore a description of one will sufiice for both thereof. Piroted to each of saidbars are the two oscillating fingers T5 and 76. the length of each of which is such that when in rerti cal position it snugly contacts with a blank underneath the same. Mounted in the recess of each of the bars 63. in a manner best shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 13. are two idler rollers 77 and 78. the same being 10- catcd immediately below the fingers 7:) and 76. respectively. As will be appar nt from Fig. 1:5. the periphery of each of these rollers projects slightly above the path of travel of the blanks, whereby the same operate to eliminate excessive forces of fri ction upon the oscillation of said fingers in a rearward direction. the ends of said fingers frictionally engaging the blank and co-operating with said rollers to return the blanks to engagement with the stop-pawls. as hereinbctore set forth.

'lhcse fingers and 76 are actuated through the medium of a rod T9 to which the end of each of said lingers is pivoted. said rod being pivoted at the end of a. crank-arm fill keyed to the shaft 136, \Vhcn these fingers arc in the positions illustrated in Fig. 3. the ends thereof are raised clear of the advancing blanks. It will be apparent that said shaft (36 may be rocked to operate through said rod T9 to swing said lingers rear\\ardl whereby the latter will co-operate with said rollers 77 and T 'respectirely to return over-thrown blanks tbcrelwtween to engagement with the stoppa\\;l which control proper positioning. While each blank is twice brought to a corn dition of rest prior to delivery to the notching mechanism. and once to a position of rest between said notching mechanism and the edging mechanism, it is obvious that there is no necessity for the employment of retracting or :eturning fin ers elsewhere than at the notching and ing stations, these being the only places W ere accurate positioning"must be insured. The fingers 75 and T6 are normally yieldingly retained in retracted and inoperative positions by means of a'coil spring 81, in tension between the finger 75 and a suitable anchorage on the bar 68 (or 69) It will be apparent that when the bars 68 and 69 are unlatched and swung to 081- tion as substantially as illustrated in.either Fig. l or Fig. 8, they-\ vill carry therewith the rods 79 and the fingers 75 and 76, whereby the entire path of travel of the advancing blanks, from the feeding station to the forming mechanism, as exposed and the advancing blanks accessible for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

In Fig. 16 I have shown the flat blank 10 which is to be formed into a lock-seamed can body. and in Fig. 17 I have shown the same after the first operation thereon. This first operation is known as the notching operation. Of course, the end edges of the blankmight be neat orer to form oppositely disposed hooks extending throughout their entire lengths. but this would be objectionable on account of the fact that under such circumstances. when the ends of the body were Hanged for the purpose of double seaming theheads or ends thereto, each of the flanges would include four layers of metal at the point where the end edges were interhooked. This would result in a protuberance which would interfere with the formation of an hermetic double-scam in what is known as the headin operation. 'lhei-el'ore. t. has been the practice to notch the blank in such manner that when the end edges thereof are bent-to inter-engaging hook-form. those portions at the ends of said edges which form parts of the flanges, are merely overlapped. whereby no part of the flange comprises more than two layers olmetal. which is unobjectionable.

'lhc notching mechanism aml the advancing mea-ns n |ust necessarily be correlative to the extant ot'linsin-ing accurate positioning of the blauk'by the latter in the former. and a-rl'ormancc of the notching operation and withdrawal of the notching dies while the blank to be operated upon is at rest. Furthermore. it Is to be remembered that the entire machine Is designed to be operated at high speed. and it will be apparent that the notchiiig dies must operate and be with drawn from the path of travel of the blanks during the rearward stroke of reciprocation ol' the feed bars .31 and 52.

There are doubtless many ways in which a blank may he notched to etl'ect the results to which I have referred. One of these ways I have illustrated in Fig. 17, which shows the corners cut away at one end edge of the blank and substantially V-shaped notches cut or punched near'the ends of the opposite edge thereof. By reference to Fig. 18, it will be seen that when the blank notched in this manner is edged," the ends of each edge will be merely overlapped in the forming operation.

Like the advancing means, the notching mechanism comprises two separate instrumentalities, mounted right and left of the middle line of the machine, respectively. 'ith the exception of the contigiiration of the notching dies, these instrumentalities are opposite counterparts and a detailed descripti'on of one thereof willsuflice for both. Each comprises a frame which includesahorizontal base plate 81 secured to one of the-bedplates E and E having upwardly projecting) wings or legs 82 and 83 bridged by a we 8-1.

Suitably journaled in hearings in the side walls of the bed is the shaft 85, keyed on which are the mutilated pinions 86 and 87 the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of racks 88 at the lower ends of the vertical shafts 89 and 90, respectively, which are reciprocable in slide-bearings through the bed-plates E and E and the base-plates 81 thereon. It will be seen that the shafts 89 and'90 will be reciprocated vertically when the shaft 85 is rocked.

At the upper end of each of the shafts 89 and 90 I prefer to provide a cylini'lrical head 91 adapted to lit within a socket 92 in the base of a tool or die holder which comprises a preferably wedge-shaped guide portion 93 integral with a shorter elongated portion 91. At or near the ends of the elongated part 94 are the toolhol(ling blocks 95 and 96. each of these blocks being provided with a vertical recess for the reception of the cylindrical body portion of a die 97, the re cess terminating short of the upper end of the. block and being so dimensioned relative to the die that the latter projects slightly laterally from the former thereby said die may be clamped within said recess by means of a plate 98. These tool-holding blocks are longitudinally adjustable with reference to the part 94. for which purpose I have shown the latter provided with tongues 99 and 1110 titting into corresponding grooves in said blocks a? and 1N3. said part 94 being also provided with a longitudinal slot or bore 101, of rectangular crosssectional configuration. to which a longitudinal groove or channel 1 is open. Slidable within the slot or bore 1 1 is the square head of a bolt lllii which passes through the toolholding block and the clamping plate. with a clamping nut 1H4 at the outer end thereof, It will be seen that. in this manner not only may said tool-holding block be rigidly secured in any desired relative position longitudinally on the part 94, but at the same time contributes to the clamping of the die in its holding block, this clamping being augmented by the provision of a cap-screw 105 passin through the clamping "plate 98 and into t e block. The die is rendered vertically adjustable, within limits, by means of a set-screw 106 at the top of the block.

In order to render the tool carrier removable in its entirety,*1 provide the head 91 on each of the shafts 89 and 90 with a circular bore therethrough adapted to register with a corresponding bore 107 in the base of said ca.rrier,-as clearly shown in Fig. 6, through which a pin'108 may be passed, this pin being-preferably provided with a circular groove 109 into which aset-screw 110 is adapted to project to retain said pin in place.

The dies 97 on one side of the machine are adapted to punch out the circular notches 111 at one end-edge of the blank (Fig. 17), and the dies on the other side of the machine are adapted to punch out the substantially V-shaped notch-es 112 in the other end-edge of the blank, these end-edges being supported on plates 113, which provide female dies. these lates being suitably mounted on the base p ate 81 of the tool-carrier. Of course, this base plate and the bed plate to which the same is secured are suitably mounted for the passage t-herethrough of the scrap.

Suitably journaled in bearings in the side walls of the bed C is a horizontal shaft 114. driven from the main power shaft 42 by means of the pinion 46 on the latter the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of an interposed idler pinion 11'5 mounted on a. bracket 116 secured to'antl depending from the bed C, which, in turn, meshes with the gear 117 on said shaft 114. On this shaft 114 is mounted an eccentric 118 carrying the eccentric-strap 119 at the end of the connecting-rod 120 pivoted to the end of the short lever 121 which is keyed to the shaft 85. It will therefore be seen that upon rotation of the shaft 42. the shaft-85 will be rocked to operate the notching dies in the manner described. and the parts are. obviously so adjusted that the tool-holders are reciprocated when ablank has been brought to a condition of rest in the notching mechanism. being elevated to clear said blank prior to the return stroke of reciprocation.

From the notching mechanism the advanc' ing pawls first advance the notched blank to an intermediate position and thence to the edging mechanism. This edging mechanism is in all material respects substantially identical to that shown and described in patent to Paul R. Hahnemann. No. 1.200.19 dated October 3. 1916. It consists of two somewhat similar devices, one on the right-hand side of the machine for turning up one endedge of the blank to form a hook and the other on the left-hand side of the machine for turning down the other end-edge and forming an oppositely disposed hook, where by said hooks may be brought into interengagement when the blank is bent to cylindrical shape in the forming mechanism. The edging device on the right hand side of the machine comprises an edge-supporting bar 122, preferably of tool steel, carried by and therefore adjustable with the bed plate E, the upper face of which is slightly beveled. Vith this bar 122 is adapted to co-opcrate the bar 123 at the end of what may be termed the arm 124 of a heavy casting in the general form of a bell-crank lever pivoted on the stud 125 carried by a bracket integral with the bed-plate E. The blank k is positioned to be clamped near the edge thereof between said bars 122 and 123, the operative force of the latter being inclined from the horizontal to conform to the beveled face of the bar 122, whereby the projecting edge of said blank is slightly bent downwardly, I prefer that the length of these clamping bars 122 and 123 should be slightly -in excess of the width of the blanks to be hooked, or the length of the can body to be formed.

At the end of the other arm 127 of what I have called a bell-crank is mounted a roller 128 (dotted lines in Fig. 7) spring-pressed against the cam 129 on the horizontal shaft 114. The configuration of the cam 129 is such that upon rotation of the shaft 114 the arm 127 of said bell-crank lever will be oscillated to intermittently raise and lower the clamping bar 123 at the end of the'arm 124 of said lever, operation being so timed that said arm 124 is depressed immediately following the positioning of a notched blank in the edging mechanism. As stated, it will be seen from the beveled configuration of these bars 122 and 123 that not only do they operate to clamp the blank I: near the righthand edge thereof, but also slightly bend this edge downwart'lly. A hub 130, which is an integral part of the bed-plate E, is provided with an upwardly projecting lug 131 which notonly provides a stop adapted to engage a detent 132 and limit upward movement of the arm 124. but also serves as an abutment against which acts the spring 216 which normally holds said arm 124 in its raised position and the roller 129 against the face of the cam 127.

Suitably pivoted to the bed-plate E is the elongated swinging-lever 134. at the end of the lower arm of which is mounted a roller 135 in the r-anpgroovc 136. and at the end 'of the upper arm of which is mounted the edging bar or plate 137. In substantially the same manner as that shown and described in detail in the Hahnemann patent. aforesaid. lateral movement of the roller 136 in the cam-groove 136 throws the edging bar or plate 137 in the direction of the clamping bars 122 and 123, at the same time directing the former upwardly, whereby the extreme edge of the blank which projects from said clamping bars is engaged and bent upwardly to hook-form, as shown in Figs. 18 and 19.

The edging tool or bar 137, is of such length and s0 positioned that the edge of the blank k is enga ed between the notches only, as indicated in lg. 18. Obviously, the configuration of the cam-groove 136 is such that the edging tool or bar 137 is o erated immediately following operation 0 the clamping bars 122 and 123.

The edging mechanism on the left-hand side of the machine is substantially similar to that just described, although the hook at this edge of the blank must be op ositely disposed relative to the hook forme by the mechanism on the right-hand side of the machine-that is to say, in the present case, downwardly. Therefore, the upper face of the supporting or clamping bar 122, correspondingly mounted on the bed-plate E, is not beveled, and this edge of the blank remains fiat when engaged by the clamping bar 123' on the arm 124 of a correspondingly shaped and operated bell-crank'lever. The lever 134, which carries the edging tool or bar 137, is operated in precisely the same manner as the corresponding lever on the other side of the machine, but in this case is of such configuration and so pivoted that when the tool or bar 137 is swung inwardly, it engages the upper face of the blank and bends the same downwardly to hook-form, as indicated in Fig. 7 and as substantially shown and described in detail in the Hahne mann patent, aforesaid. Obviously, the edging operations are performed simultaneously, and immediately thereafter the clamping bars are raised to free the blank for advancement to the forming mechanism upon the next forward stroke of reciprocation of the feed bars 51 and 52, each blank being brought into an intermediate position prior to being delivered to and properly positioned in said forming mechanism.

The forming mechanism proper-that is to say, the means for bending or curling the blank into substantially cylindrical form, inter-hooking the hooked end-edges thereof and compressing these inter-hooked edges into a substantially solid seam-is located within the inverted U-shaped frame B. and comprises, first. an expanding born or mandrel 138 which, to all intents and purposes, is substantially similar in general construction and operation to that shown and described in the Hahnemann patent, aforesaid. Obviously. this mandrel. when expanded, is as nearly as practicable in cylindrical form 

